Webb chance stumped

Home side loses out in a thriller

CRICKET: Toowoomba’s quest for a spot in the Webb Shield final has fallen short after a tight loss to Ipswich and West Moreton yesterday at Captain Cook Reserve.

The representative side fell by 10 runs, leaving them winless in the three-team competition.

Chasing down a total of 251 for victory, clutch bowling at the death from the visitors had Toowoomba needing quick runs at the back end of their innings.

Needing 31 runs off 21 deliveries, a controversial run out decision saw Hamel Shah head back to the sheds.

Initially the all-rounder was ruled safe after the umpire deemed an Ipswich fielder’s hand to have removed the bails without ball in hand.

After deliberation, the ruling was overturned, leaving Toowoomba reeling at 7/221.

Luke Neale and Brandon Walker tried valiantly to navigate the remaining runs, but were well contained by the bowlers, who stifled their chances, and dismissed Walker in the final over of play.

Toowoomba’s bowling attack had them on top during the early stages of the match, with the visitors languishing at 5/126.

An 84-run sixth-wicket partnership lifted the run rate and the tempo for Ipswich and Moreton Bay, as they were able to post a total of 7/250 from their 50 overs.

In response, the home side suffered the worst possible start with Jack Potter dismissed in the opening over.

Fellow opener Louis Reen and Aaron Paul helped to steady the ship, as they worked to get themselves in.

Paul pushed the button after getting his eye in, powering his way to 40 from 37 deliveries as Toowoomba fought their way back to 1/73 from 16 overs.

After pushing the score out to 2/112 at the halfway mark, Paul was dismissed shortly after for 71, leaving Toowoomba chasing 121 runs for victory from 20 overs.

A quick-fire 36 from as many deliveries from captain Kieran Gibbs put the home side in a position to win, requiring 46 runs from 36 balls.

IPSWICH AND WEST MORETON 7/250 (C Wood 83, M Gest 42*, D Martin 2/28, J Carter 1/23) defeated TOOWOOMBA 8/240 (A Paul 71, L Neale 36*, K Gibbs 36, T Cooper 3/35).

Photo: Bev Lacey

Full scorecards and a wrap of the weekend’s TCI A-grade fixtures will appear in tomorrow’s The Chronicle.

LEADING LIGHT: Toowoomba all-rounder Aaron Paul took a wicket and top-scored for Toowoomba with 71, but it wasn’t enough to lift the side over Ipswich and West Moreton yesterday.